Tokyo Tower東京タワー

The original icon of Japan's capital

Bearing a significant resemblance to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, this bright orange tall radio tower was built in 1958 to symbolize the country's recovery after the destruction of World War Two. Rising up to 333 meters, Tokyo Tower used to be the tallest tower in Japan until the completion of Tokyo Skytree in 2012.

Tips

Combining sightseeing and exercise by climbing up the outdoor staircase to the tower's main deck

Seeing the city far below your feet while standing on glass floor sections

You can choose to take the elevator or walk up 600 steps to the main deck, located 150 meters above the ground. If you are lucky, on sunny days you can even catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji rising in the distance. If you are not afraid of heights, try standing on the glass floor sections and look directly down to the ground—almost 145 meters under your feet. The very top deck— up at 250 meters— was renovated in early 2018, adding topsy-turvy mirrors and LED lighting effects to give the feeling of floating above the city in a high-tech spaceship.

At the appropriately named Foot Town at the base of the tower you can get a ticket to Tokyo One Piece Tower, a theme park dedicated to the wildly popular One Piece animation series. If you are looking for a quieter activity, the Tokyo Tower Aquarium is a good alternative. Foot Town offers several shops and cafes where you can purchase light snacks, drinks or more substantial meals to give you the energy to explore nearby Zojoji Temple and Shiba Park.